Commissioning of INS Nistar

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Nistar at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, it is the first indigenously designed diving support vessel in India and part of two vessels ordered in 2018.

Capabilities and Features

• Support Operations: INS Nistar is designed for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations, enhancing India's strategic maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean region.
• Indigenous Production: Over 80% of the vessel's components are indigenously produced, involving around 120 MSMEs, demonstrating a commitment to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Advanced Systems: Equipped with air and saturation diving systems, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), side scan SONARs, and a deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV).
• Medical Facilities: Includes an operation theater, intensive care unit, and a hospital with hyperbaric facilities.

Strategic Importance

• INS Nistar enhances India's role as a maritime security provider, being among the few nations with DSRV capabilities.
• Ensures rapid deployment and high-readiness submarine rescue coverage across both eastern and western seaboards.
• Facilitates international cooperation through bilateral agreements for submarine rescue support.

Global Impact

INS Nistar positions India as a pivotal player in global maritime safety, projecting soft power and reinforcing the country's capabilities to support international maritime emergencies and humanitarian operations.